Detroit Lions' Matthew Stafford takes rookies under his wing

AP PhotoDetroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, center, talks with teammates before practice drills at Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Mich., Monday, June 6, 2011.

BIRMINGHAM -- Near the end of Thursday's player-organized workout at Detroit Country Day High School, Detroit Lions quarterback Shaun Hill was running a two-minute skeleton drill (no defenders) with the offense. Off in the corner alone were quarterback Matthew Stafford and rookie running back Mikel Leshoure, going through handoffs and running plays.

After the workout, Stafford and rookie receiver Titus Young stayed behind, with Stafford throwing routes to Young. Between throws, Stafford would walk over and line up next to Young and show him some fundamentals, including first steps and route-running.

"It's easy when you're not running against anybody, but you have to find ways to get open, and he understands that," Stafford said. "Just trying to teach him the basics, getting him comfortable with our terminology and our plays."With Leshoure, it was just basic run-game stuff so he doesn't have to think -- just put in the steps and you put the ball in his hands and let him do what he's always done."

"I'm learning a lot," said Leshoure who, like Young, is a second-round draft pick and is expected to have a key role in Detroit's offense.

The Lions will wrap up their second week of player-organized workouts today. While no one is suggesting it's going to be the key to getting them to the Super Bowl, it can only help.

"You're not going to make a ton of progress, and I don't know if the things we did this week and the things we did last month are going to have a direct effect on our wins and losses, but it doesn't hurt," Lions defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said. "And it shows the commitment of our guys. Like I said, I couldn't be happier with where the players are at right now."

The Lions don't have any plans for more player-organized workouts. If the labor unrest continues into early August -- the scheduled start of training camp -- the players likely will get together for another session or two. The resurgent Lions hope it doesn't come to that.

"Football games are at risk, especially opening weekend. We hope -- because we know what we've got -- that we get back soon and the season will go on as scheduled," Vanden Bosch said.

Quarterback Drew Stanton believes the workouts -- which routinely draw between 30 and 35 players -- have been their own reward and might also have a payoff during the season.

"It's been real beneficial. It helps going through these workouts and getting tired together and pull each other along because that's exactly what's going to happen in a football game. People get tired and you look to the leaders of the team to help you pull through," Stanton said. "We're getting out here and getting uncomfortable and being put in situations you wouldn't otherwise put yourself in. When you're on your own, it's completely different. When you have somebody pushing you, you have your teammates there and there's a sense of pride that goes along with that."

While there's a great deal of cardio work and conditioning going on, there has been an increasing number of football-related activities.

"We're doing some football-type drills," Stanton said. "Even as advanced as we're getting with play calling and getting some of the different packages and personnel, we're helping these young guys and trying to bring them along. It's imperative."

In addition to the two-minute drill, the Lions are using a playlist drawn up by the quarterbacks.

"All four quarterbacks take a turn, giving some calls and getting used to hearing the verbiage," Stanton said. "We all know it, but it's about bringing it out and hearing it and getting everybody on the same page. There are some split-second decisions that can determine the outcome of a football game, and we're trying to get prepared for those. Matthew's done a good job of bringing the young guys along and making them feel comfortable and getting this whole offense behind him and getting ready for a great season."

Stafford spent so much time after practice with Young (and also talking to the media for a few minutes) that when he walked outside of the facility, he realized he didn't have a ride home. While getting on his cell phone, Stafford laughed, "This is what you get for getting dropped off (at practice)."